In winter, as temperatures fell, Bu Rashid and his family, like many Emiratis celebrated their traditions and camped in the desert. He found the perfect place to camp for his wife, and sons Rashid and Ahmed. One morning, while Um Rasheed made breakfast, the boys played outside. Bu Rashid warned them not go out in the afternoon because Donkey Noon would eat them.
Ahmed, the youngest, started laughing. “Yeah! Right! Donkey Noon will come after me,” he giggled.
“I’m not joking, Ahmed,” said his father. “If you go out, don’t be surprised when Donkey Noon finds you.” Bu Rashid was using the old myth to protect his sons from the dangers of the desert.
A few hours later, the parents and Rashid fell asleep and Ahmed left the tent to explore. Suddenly, a sand storm appeared and Ahmed couldn’t see anything.He began looking for the tent, but the storm pushed him farther and farther away from their campsite.
All of a sudden, Ahmed saw a pair of big, red eyes coming towards him surrounded by sand and his whole body started shaking with fear.The sand began to take the shape of a donkey.“Why are you outside?” Donkey Noon asked. “Don’t you know what happens to children who don’t listen to their parents?
Ahmed was so terrified the only thing he could do was to shake his head instead of saying no.
“I eat them!” Donkey growled ominously. “But. . .,”Donkey Noon paused thoughtfully, “if you promise to listen to your parents, and never again leave without their permission, I won’t eat you now!”
Ahmed quickly promised and Donkey Noon led him safely back to his family.
As soon as he arrived, Ahmed ran to his father to tell him that he had seen Donkey Noon. Bu Rashid laughed and told his son to pack up his things. Ahmed was about to interrupt his father when he remembered his promise to Donkey Noon about listening to his parents.
On the way home, Ahmed saw Donkey Noon in the distance and vowed to never to forget the mysterious beast.
by Noor Abdoulhamid Bagher Zadeh
(ILLUSTRATOR) Nauf Abdulrahman Abdulla Abdulrahman Al Shaikh
